“At the heart of the Liberal-Nationals economic plan is a $50 billion tax cut for multinationals making record profits. A $7.4 billion bonus for big banks and a pay cut for working families,” he said.

Nervous government backbenchers are getting a very loud message in their electorates that the big corporate tax cut is toxic. Liberals are still hoping that the latest Newspoll is the first in a new trend reversing the slide since the election.

For that to happen they will need to convincingly resolve the ideological split which sees the hard-line conservatives holding the Turnbull government to ransom.

For example, elements of the Liberal and National Party would rather bring down their one-seat majority government than to allow a free vote on marriage equality. They are resisting fiercely a new push from the moderates.

Contrary to public opinion, conservatives like Craig Kelly are still calling for a plebiscite. Others are urging a voluntary mail-out version. Anything to delay or defeat the human rights of gay Australians being recognised.

All of this just entrenches the perception of a government out of touch. Mr Turnbull, who has strongly identified with marriage equality, could and should seize the day.

If he showed leadership in this area based on his long-held convictions, it would go a long way to restore his and the government’s credibility.

The conservatives, however, see no connection between Mr Turnbull’s performance last week after he boldly embraced renewable energy by announcing a $2 billion expansion of the Snowy Hydro scheme, and the recovery in the Newspoll.

Not all conservatives were impressed with the announced Snowy hydro upgrade.

True, there may not be one there – polling analyst Andrew Catsaras says it is hard to draw that conclusion from one poll.

On the other hand, Mr Turnbull being seen to be more the ‘Malcolm Turnbull of old’ can’t be easily dismissed either. Even though his expensive Snowy announcement smacks of a political stunt, it is in a space where Mr Turnbull needs to be.

Conservatives, like economist Judith Sloan are not impressed. They see Snowy Mark 2.0 worse than “Labor Lite”.

Writing in The Australian she said the new Snowy Hydro plan was more like “Labor Left”. It certainly replaces the holy writ of “budget repair” with “national investment”.

There is no doubt that had Labor proposed it, it would have been attacked as reckless spending, just like the NBN was. It is also no coincidence that Australians are more impressed with nation building.

They are certainly unimpressed with what has happened to the NBN.

The contradictions within the government are stark when it comes to the internal fight over free speech and Section 18c of the racial discrimination act.

The contradictions within the government are stark when it comes to Section 18c of the racial discrimination act. Photo: AAP

Mr Turnbull promised in last year’s election campaign it would not be touched in this term. The conservatives are now urging him to scrap that promise while at the same time warning he cannot break faith with the electorate by allowing a free vote on marriage equality.